While waiting for a fight with Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall breaks a Brazilian record in the UFC

Tom aspinall is the longest-serving interim UFC champion. Photo: Reproduction/UFC India

The soap opera of the long-awaited title unification clash between the two heavyweight champions (up to 120,2 kg.), Jon Jones e Tom aspinall, has dragged on so much that it has made the latter reach a historic mark within the UFC. The British knockout artist managed to break a record that had been set 11 years ago by a Brazilian fighter within the organization.

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The interim champion Tom aspinall last entered the octagon almost a year ago, in July 2024, when he defended his belt against Curtis blaydes. The last fight of the linear champion Jon Jones it was on UFC 309, in November of last year, when he brutalized Stipe Miocic with a spinning kick in New York. Since then, the organization's GOAT has been under intense pursuit from Aspinall, who wants a title unification fight. Dana White has assured that the fight will take place in 2025 and even got angry when asked about the matter at the post-election press conferenceUFC Kansas City, last Saturday (26).

However, 'Bones' has made a series of demands to accept the duel. Given the delay in concluding this story, Aspinall became this Tuesday (29) the interim champion with the longest reign in UFC history. The British won the interim title on November 11, 2023, after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich No. UFC 295. Since then, the 535-year-old fighter has dominated for 32 days.

The previous record belonged to Brazilian and former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg.) Renan Barao, who 11 years ago was the organization's longest-serving interim champion, with 534 days. After winning the interim title on July 21, 2012, Barão successfully defended the belt twice before finally being elevated to linear champion on January 6, 2014.

While Jones and the UFC don't 'come out of the woodwork', Aspinall will continue to raise his historic, albeit indigestible, record.